Reflection on Jn 14:9-10

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.”

Let us realize that Jesus speaks to His apostles for the last time, on the evening before He is arrested and sentenced to death. So these are deep truths which He hands on to the apostles in an intimate conversation. First He gives an answer to Thomas who does not understand Jesus’ words about heaven. Jesus is going away, that He may prepare a place for the apostles and all the faithful. Thomas says: “We do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” And Jesus says: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” And then He adds: “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.” The Apostle Philip responds to it by asking Jesus: “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus says to him: “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?”

Jesus speaks about the interior knowledge through faith and enlightenment by the Holy Spirit. The truth that the Father is in the Son and the Son is in the Father is a mystery. Christ declares this mystery to us and the Holy Spirit guides us into it. It is not sufficient to see Christ physically. The Pharisees and scribes could see Christ and all the miracles, and even make sure of His physical resurrection, but they remained spiritually blind. The knowledge of Christ requires a simple heart. The Father reveals this mystery to the childlike rather than the wise and clever (cf. Mt 11:25). Jesus clearly says to Philip: “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” He does not mean physical but spiritual seeing. He who receives Christ also receives the Father by faith. Jesus then emphasizes the faith: “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?” And He gives a visible proof of this truth immediately afterwards: “The Father who dwells in Me does the works.”

The next emphasis on the unity between the Father and the Son is seen in the following verse 11: “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me.” Jesus refers to the extraordinary works testifying to God’s almightiness which works through Him. “(If you do not believe mere words), at least believe Me because of the works themselves.” Jesus points out that belief in Him unites us to both Him and the Father. The consequence is that those who believe in Him will do the same works, as it will no longer be them who will do it but God Himself in them (let us think of the miracles in the lives of the saints or martyrs).

The essence of Christianity is interior unity with Christ. Apart from faith, the necessary condition is readiness to follow Christ to death and to keep Christ’s commandments. This deep unity with the Father and the Son is also connected with the Holy Spirit. This is emphasized in verse 17 which points out the essence of baptism with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is with us but not yet in our innermost being, i.e. in us. Through repentance and faith, the Holy Spirit penetrates into the depths, as far as the division of soul and spirit (Hebr 4:12). The fact that the Holy Spirit has a great influence on the creation of this unity is expressed by Jesus’ words: “When the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will be witnesses to Me.” (cf. Acts 1:8) After the descent of the Holy Spirit, the apostles received power to witness to Christ and brought their testimony to completion by dying martyrs. The fight against the spirit of lies and death in evangelization was accompanied by great miracles.

How to live the deep truths of unity emphasized especially in verses 9 and 10? Everyone personally, but it would be better if there were two, three or more praying together, can pray the following simple prayer, in which we can live the essential truths of unity:

The first part: 15 minutes

Kneeling, with hands raised up

(5 minutes) We all repeat 4 times: “Aaa – bba” (we take a breath between the syllables)

One person says: “Jesus cried out on the cross: ‘Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’”

(5 minutes) We all repeat 4 times: “Aaa – bba” (we take a breath between the syllables)

One person says: “Jesus says these words in me.”

(5 minutes) We all repeat 4 times: “Aaa – bba” (we take a breath between the syllables)

One person says: “Now I commit my spirit together with Jesus.”

The second part: 15 minutes

Kneeling, with hands crossed on the breast

(5 minutes) We all repeat 4 times: “Jehoshua”

One person says: “You are in me, and I in You.” (I realize that Jesus is in me now)

Kneeling, with hands slightly raised in front of us, palms up

(5 minutes) We all repeat 4 times: “Jehoshua”

One person says: “You are in me, in the Father and in the Holy Spirit.”

With hands raised up

(5 minutes) We all repeat: “In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, give Ukraine the spirit of repentance!”

We sing for 5 minutes: “If My People Who Bear My Name” (with hands slightly raised in front of us, palms up)

Download: Reflection on Jn 14:9-10